Businessman Feroz Jan Mohammed and former civil servants Iliesa Turagacati and Navitalai Tamanitoakula have been handed down prison sentences by High Court Judge Justice Paul Madigan.
Former civil servant, Aisea Liwaiono has been handed a two year suspended sentence as the judge said that Liwaiono was not a principal player.
The four men were earlier found guilty in the $3 million scam case.
Feroz Jan Mohammed has been sentenced to 8 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 5 years.
Iliesa Turagacati was handed a 6 year prison sentence with a non-parole period of 4 years, Tamanitoakula got 4 years with a non-parole period of 2 years 6 months.
It was highlighted in the case that Mohammed and his company obtained a financial advantage amounting to more than $3 million by receiving money the company was not entitled to, upon submitting false invoices and circumventing the proper procedures concerning the processing of payments with the influence of Iliesa Turagacati.
During his sentence, Justice Madigan highlighted that Feroz Jan Mohammed has been convicted for three crimes of dishonesty against the Fijian people who have been crying out for good roads. He told Jan Mohammed that he is an utterly dishonest man.
The judge says apart from reference letters provided by the family members of Jan Mohammed he finds all other materials of reference letters dishonest.
Justice Madigan highlighted that Jan Mohammed declared that he had an income of less than $10,000 a year and he supports his wife and children. He said this cannot be trusted.
The Judge said Jan Mohammed did not declare that he had interest in other companies and was driving an expensive car.
For Turagacati, the judge highlighted that to some extent he was used by Jan Mohammed however without his dishonest greed Feroz Jan Mohammed would not have received the $3.1 million.
Justice Madigan said Turagacati is as responsible as Jan Mohammed.
Navitalai Tamanitoakula was convicted of Causing a Loss and given 5 years but 1 year was deducted for good character and a clean criminal record.
Former Roads Supervisor of the Department of National Roads Aisea Liwaiono was found guilty of two counts of Causing a Loss however the judge said that he was not a principal player.
He also looked at his medical condition saying that he is suffering from high blood pressure after effects of a stroke.
According to the charges, the payments were made from the funds allocated for upgrading the Nausori Highlands road.
